Access to the arts is Jon's passion

Giving the community access to arts and culture is all in a day’s work for Kwinana resident Jon Lambert.

Last week the Koorliny Arts Centre production co-ordinator was recognised at the City of Kwinana Australia Day Community Awards with the award for Art, Culture and Entertainment.

Mr Lambert said he was blown away to be acknowledged by the community for doing something he loved.

“I feel really privileged and thrilled to be recognised for helping within the community,” he said. “And for being recognised as helping bring arts to the area and keeping it sustained and moving along.

“You’re lucky to do the things that you love to do and get paid for it sometimes.”

After growing up in Rockingham, Mr Lambert moved to Kwinana three years ago to be closer to the community he was becoming more and more involved in. He said his passion for the arts stemmed from his mother and her love of theatre.

“She was always into playwriting and took me to see my first show which was The King and I many, many years ago,” he said.“ Ever since then I always had a passion to be involved either being onstage or backstage or just greeting patrons as they come in.”

Mr Lambert said there were plenty of reasons why he enjoyed working in the industry, one of them being that every day was different.

“If it’s performing onstage it’s the applause from the audience at the end of the night to signify you’ve done a good job ,” he said.

“If you’re doing the technical side, like lighting, it’s the ability to be able to create and do some interesting atmospheres and things with the light to take the audience on a bit of a journey.”

After working with the community theatre group based at Koorliny, Mr Lambert said he was proud to be involved with a centre that was bridging the gap between community members and access to the arts.